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Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 15, 2021 (SKNIS): On Wednesday, October 13, 2021, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis received a significant donation from the Government of the United States of America. Speaking at the handing over ceremony on October 13, 2021, at the Welcome Centre at Warner Park Cricket Stadium, the Director of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mr. Abdias Samuel described the donation as timely and much appreciated.

“The initial discussions for St. Kitts and Nevis to acquire a field hospital began in March of 2021. The formal acceptance and the official response for the acquisition of both field hospitals as an asset to St. Kitts and Nevis took place on March 8, 2021. As the national disaster coordinator, my office would have engaged the U.S Embassy of the need to have an additional hospital for Nevis as one would not have been sufficient for a twin-island state…Swift and consistent action was needed since all of my colleagues in the OECS were in pursuit of such valuable assets. Today, we have had great intervention to have these assets on island and handed over to us much earlier than anticipated. The acceleration of these field hospitals’ arrival is welcomed and most appreciated,” said Mr. Samuel.

The NEMA head further stated that several virtual conversations took place between a number of relevant stakeholders in an effort to facilitate the arrival of the field hospitals. Apart from the two field hospitals, two Nissan vans and I.T equipment valued at US$13,680 were also donated to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis.

“We have proposed the building of two multi-purpose facilities for EOC shelter and warehousing services. This project is earmarked for the Tabernacle and Sandy Point communities. I am pleased to inform you, that Cabinet has already agreed in principle to have the necessary lands identified and approved for this intended project. Nevis has made the proposal for a Bureau of Standard multipurpose lab that was submitted earlier this year to the Humanitarian Assistance Programme of the United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) and is awaiting consideration for the financial year 2022-2023,” said Director Samuel.

The partnership with the Government and people of the United States of America and St. Kitts and Nevis has been reciprocal. St. Kitts and Nevis hosted the Tradewinds exercise in 2015 and 2018. The first field hospital that was presented during Wednesday’s ceremony will be situated at the JNF General Hospital, while the second field hospital, which will be presented at a later date, will be stationed in Nevis.